That's weird: Selfies being blamed for increase in lice cases among teens

You probably didn’t see this coming. Lice experts – yes, that’s a job profile – have pinpointed selfies as the cause of an epidemic of bloodsucking lice amongst teenagers. For those of you who’ve not been swept away by the word of 2013, selfies are an act of clicking your own picture, preferably with a front facing camera. You can also get your friends to join you for a fun one, something that the Pope and Barack Obama have both enjoyed. But as selfie expert will tell you when it comes to shooting one with a friend, you need to stick real close to fit into the frame. So you stick your cheeks together, find the right nook for your head or generally keep your head close to your friend's. California-based lice expert, Mary McQuillan told the SFist that a whole lot of youngsters turn up for lice treatment following selfie sessions. “I’ve seen a huge increase of lice in teens this year. Typically it’s younger children I treat, because they’re at higher risk for head-to-head contact. But now, teens are sticking their heads together every day to take cell phone pics,” she was quoted as saying. Outlandish as it sounds, transfer of lice is very much possible through such an act. McQuillan says that she’s now resorted to asking all her teenaged patients about selfies and they usually admit to taking some with their friends every day. “Selfies are fun, but the consequences are real," she said. Killjoy!